Not only will the first-term governor appoint DeMint’s successor, she’ll set off dominoes that will reshape the next two years in Palmetto State politics, culminating with two U.S. Senate elections and her own potential reelection bid.

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DeMint on why he’s leaving

The driving question is whether Haley selects a caretaker for the seat who would agree not to run for the full six-year term in 2014 — or taps an ally that would help cement her legacy. A spokesman for the governor declined to speculate on a timeline for the decision, but DeMint’s resignation will take effect before the next Congress convenes on Jan. 3, leaving a little more than three weeks for a decision.

“Sen. DeMint has tossed an IED into South Carolina politics,” said South Carolina GOP consultant Richard Quinn.

Rep. Tim Scott is seen as the leading contender for the appointment among GOP consultants and officials, largely because of the historical significance. A rock-ribbed conservative 47-year-old African-American from Charleston, Scott would provide diversity and geographic balance. He would also become the first black GOP senator since Massachusetts Sen. Edward Brooke, who was defeated in 1978.

Added another conservative GOP lobbyist, “Scott is head and shoulders above any other possible appointee.”

At least one South Carolina political insider believes DeMint has already made it clear he wants Scott to succeed him, and his allies are framing the stakes in no uncertain terms.

“If she doesn’t pick him, she isn’t only saying no to Tim — one of the most popular Republicans in the state — she is saying no to Jim, the most popular Republican in the state,” a DeMint loyalist told POLITICO.

But a spokesman for the departing senator denied he is lobbying for a particular successor.

“Senator DeMint has no favorites as our state has a deep bench of conservatives. This is Governor Haley’s decision alone and he trusts her to make a great choice,” said Wesley Denton.

The only potential hiccup for Scott could be if he prefers to run for governor and views even a brief stint in the Senate as a drawback. His spokesman did not respond to an inquiry about whether the congressman would accept an appointment if offered.

Other potential candidates include Reps. Jeff Duncan and Mick Mulvaney, Attorney General Alan Wilson, former U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins and state Sen. Tom Davis, who had been contemplating a challenge to Sen. Lindsey Graham in 2014.

Davis suggested Mulvaney — who like Scott, is also entering his second term — as an appointee who would appease the base.

“What I would hope she does is appoint someone who stands for the individual liberty positions that Jim DeMint championed,” said Davis in an interview. “I think the person that really stands for those things is someone like Mick Mulvaney. He has the intellect and tenacity to advance those causes. Mick Mulvaney and I have identical positions on everything.”

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I think it is very good news for real Republicans who are side stepped by the rightist and extremists and have spoiled the name of the party and diluted the soul of Republic party by advancing their own conservative, religious, anti-social and anti-economical agendas rather than the NATIONAL INTEREST. They have failed in their goal and it is time to vacate the platform. It would be better, he should take with him his several Tea-Party goons and speaker, majority leader in Congress and several who are the responsible for the debacle of the party in the last election and are ready to wipe out the entire party in coming years continuing agitating with the mainstream hiding their heads in to deep sand.

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) will resign his post in January to head up a right-wing think tank, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

The two-term Senator and proponent of term limits was re-elected in 2010 amid an anti-incumbent frenzy that he helped create, much to the chagrin of his fellow Republicans. DeMint previously announced that he was already planning to leave Congress after his second term was up.

Instead, the Journal notes that he’ll leave the Senate to lead The Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank known for promoting misinformation about climate science and supporting tax cuts for the rich and debasing social safety net programs like unemployment insurance and Medicare.

Raw Story (http://s.tt/1w60C)

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) will resign his post in January to head up a right-wing think tank, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

The two-term Senator and proponent of term limits was re-elected in 2010 amid an anti-incumbent frenzy that he helped create, much to the chagrin of his fellow Republicans. DeMint previously announced that he was already planning to leave Congress after his second term was up.

Instead, the Journal notes that he’ll leave the Senate to lead The Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank known for promoting misinformation about climate science and supporting tax cuts for the rich and debasing social safety net programs like unemployment insurance and Medicare.

Haley, DO NOT let us down and name another Tea Party candidate. They have given the Republican party a very bad name. We can have moderates and still be about less taxes and less government. Thank you.